March 1, 2016 By Hawa Amara
Magistrate Dr. Abu Bakarr Binneh-Kamara yesterday granted Le20m bail each to two accused persons, who had been arraigned for allegedly impersonating as metropolitan police officers of the Freetown City Council.
Magistrate Dr. Binneh-Kamara also ordered that the duo of Ibrahim Taqi and Osman Kamara should surrender their national identity cards as well as have two sureties stand in their recognizance, adding that the bail should be approved by the Acting Master and Registrar.
They were charged with two counts of impersonation and larceny by trick, contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused persons on Thursday, 11 February, 2016 impersonated the Metropolitan Police of the Freetown City Council at the Sani Abacha Street in Freetown.
Metropolitan Police officer, Amara Saidu Kanu, told the court that on the 11 February, 2016 his boss, Chief Superintendent P.O. Lamin, ordered him to drive along Sani Abacha Street, together with Sergeant Abdul Kamara.
He explained that on their way back to the office they met a crowd of traders grumbling about Metropolitan Police officers, alleging harassment.
“I then stopped and enquired as to what the matter was and the traders told me that the first accused [Ibrahim Taqi] took their goods and demanded five thousand Leones from each of them. I asked the accused whether he was a worker at FCC and he responded that he was not and that he was only assisting the FCC. He pleaded with me not to expose him,” the witness explained.
He continued that he then informed his boss about the development and that the accused was subsequently arrested and taken to Central Police Station together with the goods he took from the traders.
The matter continues.